Shipping-crate.



G. A. COLBY.

SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1914

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

entrain stares rarer orricn.

Sl-lIPPING cRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (lot. 19, 1915.

7 Application filed July 24, 1914. Serial No. 852,866.

To (ZZZ whom 2'25 may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. COLBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Calgary, in the Province of Alberta and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shipping-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shipping crates Llld more particularly to folding shipping crates.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient construction of this character which may be conveniently set up into operative position or folded into compact form so as to occupy small space in storage or return shipment, and which will also be equally as durable as an ordinary rigid crate.

Another object of the invention is in connecting the separate parts of the crate by hinges, certain of which are located in such. manner as to form abutments or stops for other parts.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate in operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the crate in folded position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the device when in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4c is a transverse sectional view on the line H of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 represents the bottom member to the rear edge of which is hinged a back member 2. The hinges connecting the back member are located upon the insides of the bottom and back members and have their leaves arranged adiacent the end edges thereof so as to form .abutments for the end members 3 which are hingedly connected to the back member, as shown, and adapted to fold thereagainst when the crate is collapsed.

Connected to the upper edge of the back member 2 by the hinges 4 is the top member 5 carrying a hasp 6 arranged to engage a staple or other connecting device 8 secured to the outside of the front member 9. The front member 9 is connected to the bottom member by the hinges 10, the leaves of which are secured to the outside of the bottom and front members and have the knuckle arranged closely adjacent the free edge of the bottom member and projected slightly beyond the free lower edge of the front member so that the front member when inoperative position will rest upon the upper surface of the bottom member and abut against the ends of the leaves of the hinges which connect the bottom and rear members. The leaves of the hin es 10 are apertured to correspond with similar apertures 11 in the front member and are adapted to receive the projecting threaded ends 12 of suitable locking bolts or cleats 13 secured to the free edges of the end members 3. These bolts or cleats carry thumb nuts 14: for securing the parts in operative position. As shown, the front member is connected to the bottom member and the back member connected to the bottom member by a compound hinge consisting of three leaves 15, 16 and 17 secured, respectively, to the outside of the front and bottom member and being bent at right angles and passing through a notch in the bottom member and secured to the inside of the rear member.

When the device is folded the thumb nuts are removed and the front member moved outwardly so as to disengage the same from the bolts 12. The end members are then folded upon the rear member and the rear member folded over on top of the bottom member, the end members occupying the space between the rear member and the bottom member and consuming no more room than the hinges which connect these two members. The front member is folded beneath the bottom member and the top member is folded upon the outer side of the rear member.

What is claimed is In a crate, a bottom member, a rear member, hinges connecting the rear member to the bottom member, end members hinged to the rear member and abutting against said hinges, a front member hinged to the hottom member and abutting against the ends In testimony whereof I afiix my signature of said hingelsbwh? in (fperatliove position, in presence of tWo Witnesses. means carriec v t e en mem ers and coacting with the front member to secure the GEORGE COLBY 5 crate in operative position, and a cover Witnesses:

hinged to the rear member and having FENsY NEUSTROM, means to connect With the front member. Mrs. J. C. KEPFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

, Washington, D. G. 

